Alto Saxophonist Sonny Red: "Out Of The Blue"

Sonny Red (birth name Sylvester Kyner Junior) was a distinctive and passionate voice on the alto saxophone. He is one of the lesser known young men who were born in Detroit and learned to play there and who in the mid-50's emigrated to better opportunities in New York. Kenny Burrell, Curtis Fuller, Thad and Elvin Jones, Donald Byrd, Tommy Flanagan were some of the better known emigres but Sonny Red was an important and sadly overlooked voice. He recorded as a sideman with trombonist Curtis fuller and others and was signed for a series of good albums under his own name for Jazzland Records in 1960. However his best and most personal album was his only date for Blue Note Records and that is tonight's Jazz Feature. Sonny's "Out Of The Blue" is our second one-shot Jazz Feature done for Blue Note. It's a wonderful quartet album and the fine Blue Note quality captures Sonny's great sound and approach on the alto. He's backed on the first 6 tracks by Wynton Kelly on piano, Sam Jones on bass and fellow Detroiter Roy Brooks on drums. For the final 2 tunes, Sonny and Wynton are backed by Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums. The date is balanced by Sonny's 4 originals and some very well chosen and less frequently played standards. This one shot date was a gem for Sonny Red who sadly didn't get a lot of breaks in his career. Sonny was born in Detroit on Dec. 17,1932 and died from a chronic lung ailment on March 20,1981 at age 48. Enjoy Sonny and "Out Of The Blue" tonight.